Thomas Jefferson: The Best of Enemies - Selection Test

Read the excerpt from paragraph 1.

"At first Hamilton and Jefferson socialized on easy terms, with little inkling that they were destined to become mortal foes. But their clash inside George Washington’s first Cabinet proved so fierce that it would spawn the two-party system in America. It also produced two divergent visions of the country that divide Americans to the present day."

Which two statements best describe ideas the writer develops in the excerpt?

• The relationship between Hamilton and Jefferson went through changes over time.

• George Washington sought to include people with different views in his Cabinet.

• Jefferson held firm to his beliefs while Hamilton could be more flexible.

• The conflict between Jefferson and Hamilton had a lasting effect on the United States.

• Americans today may not realize the importance of Jefferson and Hamilton’s rivalry.

Which definition best matches the meaning of diffident in paragraph 5?

• Hesitant in actions due to a lack in self-confidence 
  

•  Characterized by or indicating fear

• Distrustful

• Restrained or reserved in manner

The author includes the information in paragraph 6 to —

• show the differences in the personalities of Hamilton and Jefferson

• describe the events that led Hamilton and Jefferson to become enemies

• illustrate how Jefferson was a more adept politician than Hamilton

• demonstrate that Hamilton was more capable of governing than Jefferson

The author includes paragraphs 12–13 to show —

• How Jefferson and Hamilton shared certain unflattering traits 

  
  

• That the two men had similar beliefs but used different approaches 

  
  

• That Jefferson and Hamilton both had unhappy and failed marriages 

• How the backgrounds of both men influenced their abilities to make decisions

Which definition best matches the meaning of inordinate in paragraph 13?

• Unrestrained in conduct or feelings

• Irregular

• Disorderly or uncontrolled

• Excessive

Which two phrases describe why the author includes the information in paragraph 15?

• To show that Jefferson’s actions after he took power were aligned with Hamilton’s views

• To illustrate that Jefferson and Hamilton’s rivalry never truly ended or was resolved

• To emphasize that Hamilton supported Jefferson’s presidency despite their differences

• To demonstrate how Jefferson and Hamilton were reconciled much later in their lives

• To indicate that both Jefferson and Hamilton opposed the election process of the time

The tone of the article can be best described as —

• nostalgic, as the author looks back fondly on this period of early American history

• critical, as the author focuses on the shortcomings of both Hamilton and Jefferson

• straightforward, as the author explains the rivalry between Hamilton and Jefferson

• disheartening, as the author shows how the conflict between the men harmed the nation

Which sentence or phrase from the selection best supports the author’s claim that Jefferson’s idea of America was not practical?

• ... Jefferson didn’t grasp the levers of power with quite the same glee as Hamilton, who had no ideological inhibitions about shoring up federal power. (paragraph 3)

• ... Jefferson retained the landed gentry’s disdain for the vulgar realities of trade, commerce and finance. (paragraph 8)

The author uses a chronological structure to —

• explain the events in the lives of both men that caused an explosive confrontation

• illustrate the similarities and differences between the views of Hamilton and Jefferson

• organize the information about both men in the order it happened to tell a cohesive story

• describe the problems and solutions achieved by both Hamilton and Jefferson

Read the excerpt from paragraph 13 of the selection. In 1797 a journalist named James T. Callender exposed that Hamilton, while Treasury Secretary and a married man with four children, had entered into a yearlong affair with grifter Maria Reynolds, who was 23 when it began. In a 95-page pamphlet, Hamilton confessed to the affair at what many regarded as inordinate length. Which statement paraphrasing this excerpt is correctly hyphenated?

• Hamilton’s confession of his affair with a 23 year old-woman was 95 pages, which many thought was too long.

• Hamilton’s confession of his affair with a 23-year-old woman was 95-pages, which many thought was too long.

• Hamilton’s confession of his affair with a 23-year-old woman was 95-pages, which many thought was too long.

• Hamilton’s confession of his affair with a 23-year-old woman was 95 pages, which many thought was too long.